The DNA code is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) within the nucleus. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus and travels to the ribosome where it is translated into a protein.

DNA / mRNA
G /  / C
C /  / G
A /  / U
T /  / A

The code given is the DNA “base” code. You are to transcribe the DNA code into the mRNA codon. You will then need to look up each triplet codon to determine the corresponding letter using the codon wheel. The letters will form words, in this case, directions for a scavenger hunt. You must perform these directions in the order the code dictates.

Practice:

DNA in nucleus / TAC / GTT / AAA / AAT / TCA / ACC / GAC / CGT / ATT
mRNA codons
Letter

Post-Activity Questions:

  1. What do the decoded words represent in actual translation?
  1. How is this activity like the real processes of transcription and translation? How is it different from these processes?
  1. If the reading frame of the codons was changed would our code still form words?

DNA Secret Code: Transcribe the DNA code (given) into the mRNA codon. Then, translate the mRNA codon into letters (instead of amino acids). NOTE: DNA never leaves the nucleus; only mRNA, after rewriting the DNA code the mRNA leaves the nucleus and goes to the ribosome.

DNA SEQUENCE 1

TAC / CTA / TTT / CCA / TTT / ACG / TCA / TAG / TTT / TCC / TTT / GAC / CGT / CCA / TCA / AGG / ATC

DNA SEQUENCE 2

TAC / CTA / TCA / CCA / AAA / GTG / AAA / GTG / TCA / AGG / CCA / TTT / CTC / TCA / GCG / ATT

DNA SEQUENCE 3

TAC / CTA / TTT / CCA / TTT / CCA / TCA / AAA / TCC / GTT / TCA / AGG / ATT

DNA SEQUENCE 4

TAC / TGT / AAA / GGG / TCC / TTT / ACG / TCA / GTT / GAC / CGT / CTA / AGG / GGG / ATC

DNA SEQUENCE 5

TAC / AAA / TGT / TTA / ACC / TTT / AGG / TTA / TCA / GGG / TGT / ATT

DNA SEQUENCE 6

TAC / CTA / TCA / CCA / CTA / TTT / GCG / ACG / TTA / TCA / GGG / ATT

DNA SEQUENCE 7

TAC / CTA / TTT / CCA / TTT / GTG / CAG / TCC / CCA / GAC / AGG / TCA / TTT / ACC / ACG / TTT / CTA / ACT

DNA SEQUENCE 8

TAC / TTT / GTG / TCA / CGT / TCC / GCG / TTT / TGT / TCA / CCA / ATG / TCA / CGT / TCA / AAA / CCA / GTT / ACT

DNA SEQUENCE 9

TAC / CCA / AAA / TTA / TCA / TTT / GAC / CCA / TAG / GAC / CGT / TCC / GTT / CAG / TCA / TGT / ATT

DNA SEQUENCE 10

TAC / AGG / TCA / CCA / GAC / AGG / CGT / TTA / TCA / GGG / TGT / ACT / GTG / ACG / TGC / ACC / TAC

DNA SEQUENCE 11

TAC / TCA / AAA / CCA / AAA / CGT / ACG / TGT / TAG / CAG / GCG / TCA / ATT